Fruit-box.



No. 718,666. PATEN'I'ED JAN. 20, 1903. R. H. SHOEMAKBR, JR- FRUIT BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1902.

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REGINALD H. SHOEMAKER, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 718,666, dated January20, 1903.

Application filed April 16, 1902. Serial No. 103,205. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, REGINALD H. SHOEMA- KER, J r., a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State ofIllinois, have invented and discovered a new and useful Improvement inFruit-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit boxes or crates.

It is my purpose to provide in fruit boxes or crates certain improvedfeatures of construction whereby oranges, lemons, or other fruit may bepacked heaping full in a box and so as to stand above the top edge ofthe box, so that when the box is opened the fruit may be more readilyexhibited and so that during package and transportation a proper spacemay be provided around the fruit in the top of the box to permit thedesired and necessary ventilation.

Other important features or results due to the improved construction setforth herein are the avoiding of unnecessary compression and bruising ofthe fruit in the box incidental to the attachment of the cover.

Heretofore it has been customary to pack fruit-boxes heaping full and tothen put on the cover and compress it down into engagement with the endsof the box, incidentally compressing and seriously bruising much of thefruit adjacent to the top, and particularly adjacent to the ends of thebox. This undue compressing of the fruit results in the rupture of thecells and hastens fermentation and rot. By my invention this injury tothe fruit from this cause is prevented and the healthy life of the fruitis prolonged.

Fruit-boxes are manufactured for commercial use on a very large scaleand of standard dimensions, certain standard sizes being provided tocontain a definite quantity of fruit. By my invention it is unnecessaryto modify or change the prevailing custom as to the manufacture of theseboxes, since said invention is applicable to any fruit box or crateirrespective of its size.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fruit-boxconstructed to embody my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thebox shown in Fig. '1. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspeo tive views of detailedconstruction.

1 is the top or cover of a fruit-box which, if desired, may comprise twoslats 8 8.

2 2 are the end pieces of the box.

3 is the bottom of the box.

4 4 are slats constituting the sides of the box.

In the preferred construction the cover, sides, and bottom arepreferably formed of slat-like pieces so arranged as to provideventilating spaces or openings between them.

In the drawings, 5 is a ventilating-space between the slats t 4. Bymeans of these Ventilating spaces or openings a proper circulation ofair is afforded throughout the entire contents of the box.

7 is a partition which may be provided in long boxes midway of the ends.

In packing the box the cover is of course removed. The fruit, be itoranges, lemons, or any other fruit which it is desired to pack forshipment, is placed in the box, and the upper layers of the fruit extendabove the top edge of both the sides and ends of the box. The cover isthen applied, and a spacer-cleat, independent of both the cover and thebox and of a thickness approximately equal to the distance between theupper edge of the box and the top of the fruit, is placed between thecover and the top edge of the box, preferably the end.

9 9 represent the spacercleats, and the same may be, if desired, lightlysecured to the box by means of small nails 1O 10, so as to be easilyremovable when the box is opened, or, as is preferable, the spacer-cleatis held in place by means of the same nails 12 13 employed to hold thecover to the box. The result is thatin the packing of the fruit thecover neednot be pressed down (so as to bruise and injure the fruit)when it is applied, but may be caused to merely rest lightly on thefruit, so as to hold it securely in place during transportation. When acrate of fruit reaches its destination and the cover is removed, thespacer cleats are simultaneously removed, and the fruit will be found tostand above the top edge of the box and may be more readily inspectedand exhibited than were it flush with the top of the box. It necessarilyfollows that because the fruit has not been unduly compressed or bruisedthe same arrives at its destination in a much more healthy conditionthan would be the case had it been necessary to compress the fruit inorder to force the cover down into contact with the edge of the boxabove which the fruit stands. In the drawings I have shown another cleatll superposed on the cover-slats 8 8. In case the said slats 8 8 arethin it is desirable that these cleats 11 11 be employed. It is obviousthat they are not essential. In the drawings the nails or fastenings 1213, which removably hold the cover and spacer-cleats in place, are shownas passing through said cleats 11 11.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. A fruit box or crate comprising ends, sides, bottom and a removablecover and an independent spacer-cleat separating said cover from theupper edge of the box, said spacercleat being removably held in placewhen the box orcrate is closed, whereby the contents of thebox may standabove the upper edge thereof without being crushed or bruised, andwhereby when the box is opened the said contents will still stand abovethe sides and ends thereof.

2. A fruit box or crate comprising ends, sides, bottom and a removablecover, an independent spacer-cleat separating said cover from the upperedge of the box, said spacercleat being removably held in place when thebox or crate is closed, the same nails or fastenings for holding thecover also extending through said spacer-cleat and into the upper edgeof the box to detachably hold said spacercleat against the upper edge ofthe box, whereby the contents of the box may stand above the upper edgethereof without being crushed or bruised, and whereby when the box isopened the said contents will still stand above the sides and endsthereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

REGINALD ll. SHOEMAKER, JR.

Witnesses:

B. K. SEFTON, MARTIN FRY.

